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Habitat conservation offers best hope for North America's birds: Report

OAK HAMMOCK MARSH, MB, May 25, 2016 /CNW/ - The State of North America's Birds 2016, the first comprehensive report assessing the conservation status of all bird species that occur in Canada, the continental United States and Mexico, shows that more than one-third of all North American bird species need urgent conservation action.

The report, released May 18 by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, calls for a renewed, continent-wide commitment to saving birds and their habitats.

Despite the many challenges faced by North American birds, the report shows that conservation works.

Waterfowl and other waterbirds are generally doing well, thanks in part to effective investment in conservation of wetlands through programs like duck stamps sold to waterfowl hunters and others interested in supporting conservation, and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, considered the most successful model of international conservation partnerships in the world.

Since 1938, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has understood how habitat conservation provides benefits to other wildlife and people, such as clean air and water, flood and erosion control, and coastal resilience. This new report confirms that DUC's ongoing science-based, partnership-focused, wetland conservation work is more critical than ever.

"Thanks to a century of continental conservation efforts, most waterfowl populations today are considered healthy," says DUC CEO Greg Siekaniec. "But our work is far from over. Wetland habitat continues to be lost in all four continental migratory flyways. Continued investments in wetland conservation will ensure that waterfowl and other wildlife species can thrive into the future, and, at the same time, improve the overall health of our environment."

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment.